Roof leak repair in Richmond Hill — we find it before we fix it.

Four methods used together. Infrared thermography reads temperature difference across the roof so saturated insulation appears as a defined shape, mapping how far water has spread. Attic-side inspection reads staining, frost and rusted fasteners from below. Moisture metering confirms the boundary of the wet area. Sectioned water testing — applying water to one detail at a time, working uphill — proves the entry point. No single method finds every leak, which is why we don't rely on one.

Almost always because the repair was aimed at the stain rather than the entry point. Water travels along sheathing and framing before it drops, so the visible damage can be several metres from the hole. It's also common for one entry point to be fixed correctly while a second, unfound one keeps going. That's exactly what a thermal scan is for — it shows the full extent of the wet area, not just the spot someone guessed at.

Not necessarily. Condensation inside the roof assembly looks identical from below. The tell is timing: leaks track rainfall and thaw, condensation appears during cold snaps with no rain at all and is usually worse above bathrooms, kitchens, or in homes running a humidifier. Plumbing and HVAC condensate lines also produce ceiling stains that have nothing to do with the roof. We check humidity and dew point alongside the roof, because no amount of roofing work fixes a ventilation problem.

Quickly, because the cost curve is steep and it's driven by the deck rather than the roof surface. While water is only wetting the sheathing it's a short repair. Once it sits through a Richmond Hill freeze-thaw cycle, the plywood delaminates and has to be cut out and replaced, which means rebuilding that section of roof rather than patching it. Add saturated insulation and drywall and a modest repair becomes a four-figure job.

A standard visit to look at a specific leak and quote the repair carries no charge. Where you need a full instrumented survey with a written report — for a real estate transaction, an insurance claim or a property manager's records — that's a paid service and we tell you the price before booking it. You'll never be charged for something you didn't agree to first.

We'll stop water entry in any weather — that part doesn't wait. Permanent repairs depend on material: shingle self-seal strips need warmth to bond and tabs turn brittle below roughly 4 °C, torch-applied SBS needs a dry frost-free substrate, and hot-air welding needs membrane clear of ice. We'll tell you plainly whether a permanent repair will hold now or whether securing it until milder weather gives the better result.

Usually not, and that's rather the point of scanning first. Isolated failures — one flashing detail, a lifted course, a split seam, a bad skylight curb — are repairs even on an older roof. Replacement is warranted when thermography shows saturated insulation across much of the field, when failures appear in several unrelated places at once, or when the deck has lost structural integrity. We price both when both are genuinely on the table.

Sudden, storm-related damage is often covered; gradual wear generally isn't. What decides it is documentation — dated photographs, the pattern of damage, and a written report separating storm damage from age-related deterioration. We document the roof on arrival and produce a cause-of-loss report your adjuster can work from. We're roofers rather than insurance advisers, so confirm coverage with your own insurer.

Everywhere inside the city — Oak Ridges and Jefferson through Mill Pond, Bayview Hill, North and South Richvale, Crosby, Observatory, Devonsleigh, Rouge Woods, Westbrook, Elgin Mills, Doncrest, Headford, Langstaff and Beverley Acres — plus neighbouring communities on request. Richmond Hill gets priority on emergency calls.